Finding Great Grandma Kennedy Under Wrong Surname on 1920 U.S. Census

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Since my visit to the Family History Library this past February during the 2014 RootsTech conference, I have been focusing more on researching my maternal grandfather’s Flanagan and Kennedy lines. These lines have always been problematic for me due to my grandpa being orphaned as a young toddler and then separated from his older brothers. Grandpa knew almost nothing about his parents and his family history.

What I have been able to piece together about Sarah’s early life is very little:

Born circa 1898 most likely in Cumberland, Allegany County, Maryland.

Living (1 year old) with her father Joseph KENNEDY (1876-?) in Lonaconing, Aellgany County, Maryland at the time of the U.S. Census. Her mother was living apart, with her parents and siblings in the same town.

By 10 April 1925, she married her second husband (my great grandfather) Patrick Thomas FLANAGAN.

I have been unable to find Sarah yet on the 1910 U.S. Census.

And until June of this year, I had been unable to find Sarah or her children on the 1920 Census. I solved this mystery when searching for the 1920 U.S. Census record for Sarah’s mother Catherine DARNLEY (1878-1926). Even Catherine was hard to find initially, but I managed to identify her enumerated under the surname of her third husband Leonard L. FABRY (1877-?).

It was while reviewing this census record that I discovered Sarah and the children living with Sarah’s mother at this time. Oddly, neither Catherine’s husband Fabry nor Sarah’s husband Ward are indicated as living in the home. I assume from this omission that Sarah had separated from and/or divorced Frank Ward by this time.

Although the children were recorded under the correct last name, that of their father Ward, my great grandmother Sarah was mistakenly recorded under her stepfather’s name Fabry. No wonder I could never find a 1920 Census record a Sarah Ward or even a Sarah Kennedy! I don’t understand why the census enumerator recorded Sarah’s last name as Fabry, since Sarah is described as “married” at this time.

1920 U.S. Census, courtesy of Ancestry.com.

The following details are extracted from the Fabry household census record:

Date: 10 January 1920.

Location: Pultney Township, Bellaire, Belmont County, Ohio.

Address: 3355 Franklin Street

(Line 82) Kathryn Fabey

Head of household / Renting

Female / White / 41 years old / Married

Able to read and write / Speaks English

Born in Ohio

Father born in Scotland (speaks Scottish)

Mother born in England (speaks English)

Housekeeper for private family

(Line 83) Sarah Fabey

Daughter

Female / White / 21 years old / Married

Able to read and write / Speaks English

Born in Pennsylvania

Father born in Maryland

Mother born in Ohio

Not employed

(Line 84) Andrew Quinn

Son

Male / White / 14 years old / Single

Able to read and write / Attending School / Speaks English

Born in Oklahoma

Father born in Maryland

Mother born in Ohio

Not employed

(Line 85) Kathryn Ward

Granddaughter

Female / White / 6 years old / Single

Attending school

Born in Ohio

Father born in Ohio

Mother born in Maryland

(Line 86) Joseph A. Ward

Grandson

Male / White / 3 years 2 months old / Single

Born in Ohio

Father born in Ohio

Mother born in Maryland

(Line 87) Leonard L. Ward

Grandson

Male / White / 2 years 1 month old / Single

Born in Ohio

Father born in Ohio

Mother born in Maryland

Google Street View of block where Darnley/Fabry/Ward home was at 3355 Franklin Street.